BUSH PAC RAISED $9.37 MILLION IN 1985-86, TOPPING ALL OTHERS

By RICHARD L. BERKE, Special to the New York Times

Published: May 21, 1987

WASHINGTON, May 20—
Vice President Bush's political action committee raised more money than any of the 4,567 other PAC's registered with the Federal Government in 1985-86, according to figures released today.

Mr. Bush's Fund for America's Future, the top-ranking political action committee, took in $9.37 million in the two-year period, almost three times more than his closest competitor, Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, the Federal Election Commission study shows.

Presidential contenders are prohibited from directly using money from their PAC's for their personal campaigns. Nevertheless, many contenders have established PAC's in recent years to finance trips around the country for speaking engagements and to enable them to contribute to local candidates, building their own networks of support.

In an effort to limit the influence of political action committees, legislation now before Congress would curb the total amount those groups could raise and spend. Currently, there is no ceiling on how much can be raised by these groups, controlled by corporations, unions and trade associations as well as politicians, but there are limits on what they may receive from an individual as well as on how much they may contribute to a candidate. $3.3 Million for Dole Group While they are soliciting funds for their personal PAC's, the campaigns are also raising money directly for their campaigns. Second to the Bush fund in money raised by Presidential candidates was Campaign America, the organization associated with Mr. Dole, the Senate Republican leader. It raised $3.3 million in 1985-86.

Representative Jack F. Kemp of Buffalo, another Republican Presidential contender, collected $3.2 million through his Campaign for Prosperity. Former Senator Howard H. Baker Jr. of Tennessee, who abandoned plans to run for President when he became President Reagan's chief of staff, collected $1.5 million through his Republican Majority Fund.

Kirk Clinkenbeard, a top fund-raiser for Mr. Dole, said Mr. Bush's success at raising money ''has to do with being the Vice President, high name identification and the ability to travel any time.'' Mr. Dole's PAC raised its goal, he said, addding that another group controlled by the Senator, the Majority Leader's Joint Trust, raised about $1 million for direct mail.

''That is amazing,'' Terry McAuliffe, finance director for Representative Richard A. Gephardt, a Missouri Democrat, said of funds raised by the Bush PAC. ''Money begets money in the fund-raising business. The stronger you look, the more people you attract.''

Mr. Gephardt, who is also a Presidential contender, raised $1 million through his PAC, the Effective Government Committee. But neither Mr. Gephardt nor any other Democratic Presidential candidates was among the top 50 in money raised by PAC's.

The Fund for a Democratic Majority, controlled by Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Masschusetts, amassed more than any PAC controlled by a Democratic lawmaker, $2.7 million. But Mr. Kennedy is not running for President.

The election commission listed the National Congressional Club, connected to Senator Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina, as raising $15.3 million in 1985-86, more than any other PAC. But technically, the PAC raised about $8 million - less than the Bush fund - but was lumped in the election commission report with Jefferson Marketing Inc., because a court ruled last year the the company and the PAC had worked jointly. PAC's Raised $352.9 Million

In all, PAC's raised $352.9 million and spent $338.2 million in 1985-86, according to the election commission study. The commission found that PAC contributions to candidates for Federal office increased 26 percent over the 1984 election cycle.

As is customary, Congressional incumbents in both major parties received the bulk of PAC contributions. Senate candidates received a total of about $45 million, while House candidates took in slightly more than $87 million.

The American Telephone & Telegraph Company, the top ranking corporate PAC, raised $1.8 million in 1985-86, followed at a distance by the Philip Morris Inc. PAC, $668,453, and the Amoco Corporation PAC, $647.594.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters surpassed all other labor funds, raising $4.3 million in the two-year period.

Of the trade PAC's, the Realtors' group raised the most, $5.6 million, followed by the American Medical Association, $4.9 million, and the National Rifle Association, $4.6 million.

The National Conservative Political Action Committee, known as NCPAC, raised $9.31 million, nearly as much as the Bush PAC.